EMU

CLASS 313

DURING March, No. 313207 was used as a static Covid-19 testing facility at Brighton station, enabling rail staff to be offered rapid lateral flow tests. The unit has been adapted with screens and curtains.

CLASS 317

RECENT arrivals at Ely Papworth for storage have been Nos. 317650/658, which arrived from Ilford behind No. 57305 on February 26, and No. 317345 brought from Ilford by No. 57312 on March 5. No. 57312 was also used to haul the 5Q86/12.03 Ilford-Eastleigh Works on March 4, conveying Nos. 317346/652 for disposal.

CLASS 321

DISPOSAL of surplus Class 321s continued during March, with a further six sets sent to South Wales for cutting. Nos. 321345/435 were taken away on March 5 by No. 37884, which formed the 5Q76/08.29 Harwich Parkeston Quay-Sims, Newport, and a week later No. 57312 took No. 321347/363 away on the same working. March 19 saw

No. 57312 haul Nos. 321349/366 from Clacton to Newport Docks for scrapping.

Following its move to Wabtec, Doncaster in February (and mentioned last issue), Eversholt Rail has revealed that No. 321334 is to be converted into a parcel carrying unit. Seating and all other passenger features will be removed and new flooring and equipment for containers fitted.

Operating under the ‘Swift Express Freight’ name, it is due to begin trials in the summer.

CLASS 323

FOLLOWING its overhaul at Wabtec, Doncaster, No. 323215 returned to Soho (Birmingham) behind No. 57305 on March 10.

CLASS 345 ‘AVENTRA’

INCREASED from seven to nine cars in late February was No. 345051, with Nos. 345040/44/49 following during March.

CLASS 350 ‘DESIRO’

UNDERTAKING some overhead line infrastructure testing on behalf of Network Rail, London Northwestern

Railway’s No. 350126 made several runs on the northern section of the West Coast Main Line on March 15, operating variously between Crewe, Lancaster, Oxenholme, Carlisle and Beattock.

The next day saw the set run from Crewe to Preston and then via Patricroft to Alderley Edge, returning to Manchester Piccadilly prior to taking a trip to Manchester Airport, after which it returned to Crewe.

CLASS 365 ‘NETWORKER’

GOVIA Thameslink Railway is to cease using Class 365 ‘Networkers’ from the May timetable change, with the remaining sets being handed back to the Department for Transport’s Train Fleet company, which took over their ownership from Eversholt in 2020.

Since February, their use has been somewhat limited, with one pair of units undertaking a peak hour return working (1P05/06.37 Peterborough-King’s Cross and 1P52/18.05 return) on weekdays.

Already, Nos. 365508/14/18/28/ 30/32/36/38 have been laid up at Peterborough Nene Sidings, several having been debranded. Once some of the timetable changes over the past year are reversed, GTR is to transfer six of its Gatwick Express (Class 387/2) sets to the Great Northern route on a temporary basis, these being surplus while the Gatwick Airport station upgrade takes place. Longer term, other stock will be introduced – such as c2c’s Class 387/3 sets, which will become surplus around the end of the year when six Class 720 ‘Aventra’ units are due to be delivered.